Why is perception so important in the workplace?

Do you understand how you’re perceived in the workplace?

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Perception refers to how your employees are seen, and how they see each other. It is how people tend to operate and behave in the world, based on what they believe to be true.

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It's important to remember everybody has their own beliefs and unique mix of traits, preferences and perceptions. This means they have their own view of the world and have a certain way of approaching things.

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Often, perceptions in the workplace can clash.

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It's important to remember your intention might not match the impact your words or actions actually have. What you say is not necessarily what people hear and just because you give a message doesn't mean your listeners understand or agree with it.

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For example, you may think you’re assertive and straight-to-the-point, whereas your team or colleagues may find you rude or not a team player.

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Alternatively, you may thrive on deadlines and work best when you get to be reactive whereas this can be someone else’s worst nightmare.

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There are a wide range of benefits to getting clear on your own perceptions, as well as those of others in the workplace, including:

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1. Improved communication: By understanding how others perceive situations and their different views on the world, you can tailor your communication to be more effective.
2. Increased collaboration: Understanding other people’s perceptions increases collaboration as each team member understands they look from only one perspective and need others to see the bigger picture.
3. Better decision making: When you have a deeper knowledge of how others perceive things you can take into account other points of view and make more informed decisions.
4. Increased motivation: Valuing other people and their perspectives improves their motivation as they feel listened to and included.
5. Better problem-solving: You can avoid conflicts and misunderstandings as you better understand how you impact individuals and can tailor your approach to be more effective.
6. Greater innovation: By taking into account other people’s perspectives you gain a more diverse range of thoughts and ideas which leads to more creativity and greater innovation.?
7. Better performance: Understanding perceptions allows you to manage them and create a more positive and productive work environment and improved performance.

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How do you understand your perception?

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1. Develop your self awareness

?Self awareness isn’t just about understanding yourself, it also helps you understand your impact in the workplace and the people you work with.

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By developing your self awareness you can begin to understand your own perceptions, biases, and assumptions, which can help you understand how they may be impacting your interactions with others in the workplace. It also helps you recognise how you may be perceived by others so you can adjust your behavior if needed to improve the way you interact with your team.

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2. Ask for feedback off others

To effectively get clear on other people's perceptions, you need to ask for feedback and make sure you’re actively listening to gain insight into their point of view.

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Everybody has blind spots and even the most effective leaders can unconsciously behave in a way that negatively affects others. Seeking feedback from someone you trust can help you to understand any gaps you may have in your own perceptions and identify what you need to develop on.

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3. Use a personality profiling tool

Personality profiling tools like Insights Discovery helps you to understand yourself and management style through the perception of those around you.

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It breaks down your communication and working preferences so that you have a deep understanding of how you impact others in the workplace.

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This means not only do you develop your own self awareness, but you also get clear on how you’re received by others. Therefore if there is a gap, you can adjust your communication or management style suitably and ensure a more effective interaction.

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Become an Evolved Manager

?In the Evolved Manager Free Resource hub there's a range of webinars and articles to help you understand your perception and impact on others, develop your skills as a people manager and better support your team so they can reach their potential and perform to their best.

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Sign up to the Evolved Manager Free Resources Hub here.

?You can also join The Evolved Manager Community here - my free group for People Managers and HR to connect, share their values, experiences and support each other’s development.

?If you would like to know more about Insights training for you and your team, drop me an email on [email protected] .